mochi

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“Earth to Langa?” Reki’s hand on his shoulder snapped the snow-haired male out of his stupor. “You good, man? You've been blankly staring into the distance for a while now.” The redhead tilted his head, concerned for his friend.

Langa blinked a few times before shaking his head. He kept his gaze lowered for a moment longer before finally meeting Reki’s eyes.

“My mom started seeing someone…” he uttered quietly, unsure of what else to say.

Reki looked surprised, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“...Are you okay?

“I don’t know.”

Silence settled between them.

The red-head’s eyes wandered across the skate park, desperate for a way to lift the mood. Then something caught his eye.

“Whoa—check that out,” he said, nodding toward the far end of the park.

The troubled male followed his gaze.

A girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen, was weaving through the ramps on rollerblades with startling ease. You launched yourself into a spin, landing cleanly on one foot before transitioning into a backwards grind along a low rail. Without missing a beat, you hopped onto a ledge, twirling mid-air and landing in a smooth crouch.

“Dude,” Reki grinned, “she’s killing it.”

Langa’s eyebrows lifted in mild awe. “She’s… really good.”

The tension between them started to ease as they watched you carve your path through the park, the rhythm of your movement oddly comforting.

The extrovert of the two squinted, watching you glide across the park again. “Huh… I don’t think I’ve seen her around before.”

The snow-haired male shook his head slightly. “Me neither.”

They watched in silence as you picked up speed, movements fluid but light, almost cautious—like you were testing your own limits. You then twirled neatly off a ramp and landed with quiet grace, before heading toward a grind rail. Unfortunately, as you locked into the rail, your foot slipped. With your balance tipped, you fell hard— skidding across the concrete with a dull thud.

“Ouch—!” Reki flinched. “That was one nasty fall.”

Without missing a beat, the two were by your side, worried.

“Hey, are you okay?” Reki asked, crouching beside you as you sat up slowly.

You nodded quickly, but didn’t say anything right away. You looked down, brushing your hair from your face, and winced as you gently touched your scraped elbow.

“I’m fine,” you said quietly, barely above a whisper.

Langa knelt down across from you.“That part of the rail’s tricky. It dips weird in the middle—threw me off too.”

Your eyes lifted briefly to meet his blue ones, surprised, before flicking away again. “Oh… I didn’t know.”

“Not your fault,” Reki added with a friendly grin. “Seriously, you’re really good. That last spin? Super clean.”

You blinked, startled by the compliment, cheeks flushing a little. “Um… thank you.”

“You’ve got great control,” Langa said softly, offering you a hand to help you up. “You skate really smooth.”

You hesitated, then gently took his hand, standing up with care. “I’m still practicing… I’ve only been skating here a few times.”

“Well, you’re doing awesome,” Reki remarked, brushing dust off your shoulder lightly. “Just watch out for that spot.”

You gave a tiny nod and a shy smile, fiddling with the edges of your sleeves. “Okay… I will.”

The redhead tilted his head slightly, now standing beside you with his hands on his waist. “So what brings you to the area? Haven’t seen you around before.”

“Oh… we just moved here,” you answered quietly, brushing your palms together. “Last week, actually.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” Reki said with a grin. “Welcome to the neighborhood, then.”

The other male nodded. “You picked a pretty cool spot to explore.”

You looked down, smiling again—small and shy. “I like it here… it’s a little scary, but fun.”

“You’ll fit right in,” the flame-haired boy reassured, standing up and offering a fist bump. “Especially skating like that.”

For a beat or two, you hesitated, then gently bumped your fist to his. “Thanks.”

Reki tilted his head, still watching you. “You came out here alone?”

You nodded, looking down.

“How come?” he asked, more softly this time.

You've been warned to be wary of strangers, but these two made you feel…safe and at home — as if you've been friends for a while now. You felt that they could be trusted. (okay children still be wary of strangers!!!)

You hesitated before shrugging slightly. “I… just didn’t want to be home right now.”

The two best friends exchanged a glance.

“You wanna sit for a bit?” Reki offered, gesturing toward a nearby bench.

You nodded, and they helped you over. You sat down slowly, careful with your sore arm, while the two boys settled beside you—Langa quiet, Reki leaning forward with a casual slouch.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” the redhead started, “but if something’s bothering you… we’re cool to listen.”

You were quiet for a moment, picking at your wristband before speaking. “My dad found someone new… a girlfriend.”

Your voice was soft, almost unsure.

“We moved here to be closer to her,” you added after a beat. “I guess it’s supposed to be a good thing since my mother's been out of the picture for a while now. But I don’t know… everything just feels weird.”

Langa froze for half a second but said nothing, eyes focused straight ahead.

Reki blinked, then glanced sideways at his friend. “…Huh.”

“She’s nice, I guess,” you added quickly, feeling the need to defend it. “But it’s just been me and my dad for so long. Moving… all this change—it’s a lot.”

The more introverted of the two looked down at his hands. A strange silence fell between them.

The redhead looked between the two of them, then slowly raised a brow. “…That’s kinda funny timing,” he muttered under his breath.

You tilted your head slightly, confused. “What is?”

“Nothing,” Reki said quickly, waving it off with a half-smile. “Just... sounds familiar.”

You three sat in a loose silence for a few moments, the sound of wheels scraping ramps echoing faintly in the background.

The flame-haired male finally broke it, voice softer now. “How do you feel about it? You know… your dad and the move?”

Langa stayed quiet beside him, eyes fixed on the concrete.

You thought for a moment, your fingers loosely tugging at the hem of your sleeve.

“I think… I’m happy for him,” you started. “He deserves a second chance. He’s always done his best for me, even when it was just the two of us.”

Reki nodded gently, listening.

“I guess… love’s kind of like skating,” you continued, voice just above a whisper. “You fall a lot. You get scared to try again. But sometimes, you find a different way to move forward.”

Langa’s eyes shifted toward her, subtly, quietly.

“I used to ice skate when I was younger,” you admitted. “It was something I did with my mom. After she left… I couldn’t even look at the rink anymore.”

Neither Reki nor Langa said anything, both giving you the space to speak.

“But a few months ago… I found rollerblading,” you went on. “It wasn’t the same, but… I started to love it. It felt like I could breathe again. Like I wasn’t stuck in that memory anymore.”

Your voice wavered slightly, but steadied yourself with a small breath.

“It’s not the same as before… but it’s still mine now.”

The redhead smiled faintly, nodding. “That’s... really cool of you.”

Langa looked down, his fingers curling loosely in his lap. Your words lingered in his chest more than he expected.

It felt familiar—too familiar.

Reki glanced at him again, this time without saying anything. He didn’t need to.

A quiet breeze passed through the park, rustling the edge of Reki’s hoodie.

He looked over to you with a grin. “If you’re feeling up for it… wanna skate a bit more? Nothing crazy. Just cruising.”

You looked down at your elbow, gently flexing it. “I think I’m okay now,” you said softly. “It doesn’t hurt as much anymore.”

“Nice! Then let’s roll,” Reki said, pushing himself up with his usual energy. “But first—uh, we should probably introduce ourselves, huh?”

He held out a hand. “I’m Reki.”

“Langa.” The quieter of the two spoke, holding out a hand as well.

You hesitated just for a moment, then gently took both of their hands with a shy smile, introducing yourself to them.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Alright, [Name],” Reki grinned, already hopping on his board. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

And with that, the three of you hit the park again—two skateboards, one pair of rollerblades. You woved through the ramps and paths like a little pack, laughing when someone nearly got wiped out, cheering each other on with small tricks and turns. It wasn’t flashy—it wasn’t meant to be. Just fun.

You glided beside them, more at ease than before, your shyness melting away bit by bit with each lap around the park. For a little while, everything felt light.

Eventually, a voice called out from the park entrance.

“[Name]!”

You three looked over to see a man standing by the gate, waving gently.

Your expression shifted—still soft, but thoughtful now. You slowed to a stop and turned to the boys.

“I have to go,” you said, brushing a loose strand of hair from your cheek.

Reki stepped off his board. “Got it. It was really fun skating with you.”

Langa nodded. “You’re good, [Name]. Hope we see you again.”

You smiled at both of them, eyes warm.

“Thank you… big brothers,” you said sweetly, giving a small wave. “I hope we can skate again sometime.”

Then you turned and carefully rolled off toward the man waiting at the gate— your father.

Reki stood there for a second, eyebrows raised. “…Big brothers, huh?”

Langa blinked. “That’s… new.”

But neither of them minded.

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Langa was lounging in his room, halfway through a skate video, when Nanako called out from downstairs.

“Langa? Can you come down for a second?”

He paused the video and sat up, stretching. “Okay!”

He padded down the stairs, yawning as he turned the corner into the hallway.

“I want you to meet—” his mom began, but teen stopped dead in his tracks at the sight by the front door.

There stood a man he’d never seen before—neatly dressed, polite smile. Beside him… stood you.

You were half-hiding behind your dad, fingers clutched around the strap of your bag, rollerblades peeking out from the side. Your eyes widened the second you spotted Langa.

You both blinked.

…

“You?!” Langa pointed, eyebrows flying up.

You got a bit startled, taking a small step further behind your father. “Um…”

“You’re—You’re his kid?!” Langa gestured vaguely at the man. Nanako smacked her son from the back, telepathically berating him for his rudeness.

You looked like you wanted to disappear into the floor. “I… I didn’t know you were her son…”

The young male turned to his mom, who looked slightly amused. “You said he had a daughter, but didn't tell me she was a skater???”

“I didn’t know you knew her!” his mom said, barely holding back a laugh.

You peeked out again, your voice soft. “Hi…”

“…Hi,” Langa replied back, dazed.

The man blinked. “So you two… already know each other?”

“She faceplanted at the skate park and we helped her up,” Langa said bluntly. “Did not think we’d be having dinner together later.”

You made a tiny squeak of embarrassment and hid your face behind your father’s back.

Nanako smiled, clearly amused now. “Well, this’ll make things easier, won’t it? I knew you two would get along well.”

The boy just stared at his mom.

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“—Wait wait wait,” Reki choked, gripping his stomach as he doubled over with laughter. “You’re telling me… the girl we skated with the other day—that [Name]—she’s your future stepsister?!”

Langa stood beside him, arms crossed, watching Reki fall apart. “They’re not even engaged.”

“Yet!” Reki wheezed, pointing dramatically at his best friend. “Dude, you helped her after a fall, then boom—plot twist—you’re setting the table with her the next night!”

You stood off to the side in your rollerblades, gently swaying on the wheels, clearly flustered but not interrupting. Your cheeks were red, hands tightly wrapped around the strap of your backpack.

“I… I didn’t know,” you mumbled, eyes on the pavement. “It was a surprise for me too…”

Reki spun toward you, as if it made the whole thing funnier. “And you just showed up like, ‘Hello, I’m my dad’s girlfriend’s son’s skating buddy now.’ That’s straight out of a manga!”

Langa sighed. “Can you not be so loud about it?”

“I have to be loud about it,” the redhead stated, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “This is gold.”

You gave a small, awkward smile and quietly asked, “Um… is he always like this?”

Langa nodded. “Unfortunately.”

“Hey!” Reki shouted, still grinning. “You love it.”

You finally giggled softly, covering your mouth with one hand.

Langa glanced at you, then back at Reki. “It’s weird, yeah. But it’s… not bad.”

“Yeah,” you started quietly. “It’s actually kind of nice.”

“I was kind of worried I wouldn't get along with…” you fiddled with the ends of your sleeves, avoiding any of their eyes, “.. my new older brother.”

Reki raised his eyebrows, mock-incredulous. “You two are getting along already? You better not leave me out, you emotionally bonded roller kids.” He jokingly moped and hugged himself in mock comfort.

Langa gave him a flat look. “We’re not forming a club.” Although, he mentally melted at your little confession— he must protect you!

“I’d join,” You admitted shyly, then looked surprised you said it out loud.

Reki’s eyes widened. “Okay, that was adorable.”

The snow-haired boy gave a tiny shake of his head but smiled anyway.

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The sun was starting to dip lower, casting golden streaks across the ramps. You three had been skating for a while now — with you coasting quietly beside the boys, occasionally joining in their laps around the park.

Langa slowed down, cruising beside you.

“You’ve gotten more confident,” he said casually, low-key proud of you.

You glanced back at him, cheeks slightly pink. “A little. It’s easier when you’re around…”

Langa looked ahead again, thoughtful. Then, out of nowhere, he said, “Hey. Have you ever heard of S?”

You blinked. “S?”

Reki, skating a little ahead, turned around in time to hear that. “Oh?”

Langa pushed off gently, circling back toward you two. “It’s a race. Underground. We go sometimes.”

You tilted your head, clearly intrigued but hesitant. “Is it… like a tournament?”

“It’s kind of unofficial,” the snow-haired male answered. “But there are people with all kinds of styles. It’s intense. Loud. And fun.”

Reki coasted to a stop beside him, raising an eyebrow. “You thinking of bringing her?”

Langa shrugged. “She might like it.”

The redhead scratched the back of his neck, looking upwards in thought. “I mean… I’ve seen people on rollerblades there before. Not often, but it’s not forbidden or anything.”

“Would I even be allowed?” You asked, blinking up at them.

Reki grinned. “Kid, if you can ride, you can race. S doesn’t care what’s on your feet—just how fast you are. We even know someone your age.” (we pretend that it's not completely a skateboarding competition, yeah? yes.)

You looked unsure, nibbling your bottom lip. “It sounds a little scary…”

“It is,” Langa admitted. “But in a good way.”

You looked down at your skates, thoughtful.

“…You don’t have to race,” Reki added, his tone more gentle. “Just come see it. Feel the energy. You’ll know if it’s your kind of thing.”

You hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll… think about it.”

The flame-haired boy smiled. “Cool. We’ll let you know when the next one’s on.”

Langa gave you a small nod. “It’s not just a race. It’s where I really started skating.”

Your eyes widened a little. “Then… maybe I should see it too.”

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The roar of music and the buzz of energy in the air hit you the second you stepped through the dark entryway behind Langa and Reki. Neon lights flickered overhead, casting streaks of electric pink and blue across the graffiti-covered walls. The atmosphere was alive — skaters flying by, cheers echoing from deep in the course, and the pulse of underground freedom everywhere.

You were wondering how you managed to convince your dad to allow you out this late, but you can only guess it's because you were going with Langa and Reki. It seems he trusts the older teens to take care of you while he works a night shift.

You clutched your sleeves tightly, opting to leave your backpack back at home. Your rollerblades were already strapped on, and you stayed close behind the two boys.

“You okay?” Langa asked, glancing over his shoulder, Reki doing the same but with a reassuring smile.

You nodded quickly, eyes wide. “It’s… a lot. But it’s kind of amazing.”

“Wait until you see the race track,” Langa said, casually adjusting his board under his arm. “It’s chaos in the best way.”

As your trio entered the crowd of S regulars, familiar faces popped up fast.

“Yo! Langa! Reki!” came a young boy’s voice, waving from atop his board. He slowed as he approached your group, looking curiously at you. “Newbie?”

You observed him, tilting your head in curiosity. Was he the one they said was your age? He seems… sassy. And he seems familiar somehow…

“This is [Name],” Reki said, motioning to you. “She rollerblades.”

Miya raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You bringing blades to S now?”

The redhead smirked and rolled his eyes. “Better than bringing your attitude.”

You giggled quietly as Miya scoffed and rolled away.

“That kid was Miya. He might act like a prickly cat, but I'm sure you two would get along!”

Next came a pretty pink-haired man, sipping from a can of soda like he was at an art gallery, and a buff greenette male, looming nearby with arms crossed and his usual confident grin. They were pretty tall— like very tall.

Cherry tilted his head, noticing you. “Another stray, Reki?”

“She’s Langa’s fan club,” Reki teased.

“I’m not—!” You quickly refuted and turned to him, flustered.

Langa blinked, surprised. “I didn’t know I had a fan club…”

Joe chuckled. “Give it time.”

Reki continued with his introductions, referring to the pretty pink-haired man as Cherry, and the buff man as Joe.

Suddenly, from the central ring of the course, someone shouted across the crowd:

“Hey Snow!” A skater rolled up, smirking confidently. “Haven’t seen you race in a while. Feel like warming up?”

Langa didn’t even flinch. “Sure.”

“Right now?!” Reki said, already fired up.

Langa glanced at you, who looked surprised. “You okay watching for a bit?”

You nodded, stepping back toward the group, heart racing. “Go for it.” You were excited to watch your older brother skate.

As Snow took his position, the crowd gathered with anticipation. The lights shifted as the announcer's voice boomed through the space.

“It’s Snow vs. Edge! One lap. One shot. Let’s see who brings the heat!”

The countdown began.

Your eyes were locked on Langa.

Go!

The snow-haired boy launched forward with effortless speed, his form low and controlled as he carved through tight turns and flew over obstacles like he was weightless. His hair whipped behind him as he ducked and spun with precise motion, his board practically glued to his feet.

Every twist, every grind, every perfectly timed push — it was mesmerizing. He wasn’t just skating. He was dancing with the course.

Edge tried to keep up but fumbled on the curve near the wall ride. Langa didn’t miss a beat so by the final stretch, it was clear that he was untouchable.

He crossed the finish first — cool, calm, breathing easy.

The crowd erupted, but you were silent, eyes wide in awe from where you stood watching your brother on the screen.

Langa rolled back towards your group, brushing hair from his eyes like it was nothing. “Not bad,” he uttered, casually hopping off his board.

Reki clapped him on the back. “You say that like you didn’t just destroy that guy.”

You stepped forward slowly. “That was… incredible.” Your eyes were basically twinkling.

He blinked. “You think so?”

You gave a small, sincere nod. “You looked like you were flying…”

The older teen scratched the back of his neck, a little shy now. “Thanks.”

You looked down at your skates, voice soft. “I wanna be like that someday.”

Reki overheard and grinned. “Uh-oh. We’ve got a full-fledged Langa fangirl now.”

“I’m not—!” You squeaked, then quickly turned away, flustered.

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The atmosphere buzzed with energy as more skaters gathered at the top of the mountain-side launch ramp, waiting their turn for a run down the course. Neon lights flickered, and the heavy bass of underground music pulsed through Crazy Rock.

You stood off to the side near Langa and Reki, quietly observing as racers launched themselves down the steep slope one after another.

You shifted in your skates, a little nervous from just watching. “It’s so… steep.”

“You get used to it,” Langa said. “Eventually.”

Reki added, “The fun part’s after the drop — it winds down into an old warehouse. Tons of chaos. Metal walkways, busted guardrails, busted egos.”

You gave a small, nervous laugh.

Just then, someone behind you stumbled through the crowd, knocking gently into you from behind. Your wheels slid forward on instinct.

Your toe brakes caught nothing.

“—Ah?!”

You tilted forward, wheels rolling. Your eyes widened.

“Wait—!”

But it was too late, you were already on the slope.

You heard shouts of your name but the wind whoozing past your ears made it harder to hear.

You picked up speed alarmingly fast, your terrified yelps echoing off as you shot down the winding mountain track. The crowd parted, confused and cheering, some not even realizing you hadn’t meant to start.

“Oh no—!” Reki bolted forward to chase after you, nearly tripping over his own board.

The onlookers turned in surprise as you zipped past the painted starting line and straight into the main course of S, completely unprepared.

“Somebody’s going in raw!” someone shouted, mistaking it for a bold entrance.

“GO LITTLE SKATER, GO!” another cheered.

“Is she—racing!?” someone yelled.

“New blood! LET’S GO!”

Reki swore loudly and jumped on his board.

Langa was already ahead of him, launching down the slope at full speed.

Below, your mind blanked except for one thought: don’t fall.

The slope dropped beneath you, your skates flying over rough pavement. You even hit a dip in the road, caught air, and landed with a stagger, but kept going. Your breathing was short and fast, adrenaline pushing through.

The music faded into a distant hum as your wheels scraped loudly against the steep, winding slope. The wind whipped your hair back, panic surging through your chest as the crowd disappeared behind you.

You were on the mountain course of S.

By accident.

“No no no no—!” you breathed, legs shaky, trying to regain control.

Ahead loomed the first sharp curve — jagged, broken in places, with a loose scatter of gravel threatening to pull you off edge.

Your wheels nearly skidded out.

Close behind, Langa was catching up fast. “[Name]—watch the turn! Stay low!”

You heard him, but you already knew.

The fear was still there — but something else was rising, just underneath it.

Your hands clenched into fists, knuckles tight inside your gloves.

Ice.

That was what it reminded you of. The dizzy rush of a sharp turn, the way your body had to trust the blade underneath to hold, or you’d fall.

“[Name]!” Langa shouted from behind, trying to catch up. “The next curve’s sharp!”

The wind roared past your ears. Ahead, the road twisted violently, narrowing between slabs of uneven stone. Your feet trembled, balance faltering for a second.

But something deep inside clicked — not fear.

Memory.

Your breath steadied. 'I know this feeling'.

The panic dulled.

As the next sharp curve came at you — sharper and tighter than the last — you made a decision.

Trust it.

Your body dropped low — lower than a normal skater ever would.

You extended your right leg out, other knee bent deep, gloved hand just inches above the ground.

Then—

You leaned in.

A smooth, gliding sweep. Low. Elegant. Sharp.

Your glove skimmed the road’s surface like it was ice, scraping the surface for balance as your wheels carved along the turn, edge biting in. Your entire body leaned low, practically parallel to the road.

A hydroblade.

The move let you glide around the brutal curve with a flow that looked impossibly fluid for someone on wheels.

The crowd up top burst into noise.

“Yo—what was that?!”

“She just slid that like water!”

“Was that a dance move or something?!”

Only one person stood perfectly still, noting your movement to themselves.

Reki, behind you and Langa, was practically shellshocked as he witnessed your technique.

Gone was your nervousness as you transitioned smoothly into the next section of the course.

And soon, you burst into the warehouse with more control now, rattling over the metal walkway, movements no longer panicked but refined. You ducked low under a rusted beam, jumped slightly over a cracked section, then coasted down the stairs, using your knees to absorb the shock.

Then your skates hit the flat ground.

You rolled forward to the looming finish line before coming to a shaky, but graceful stop.

The crowd roared.

“Did you see that move?!”

“I’ve never seen a turn like that—!”

Langa reached you first, wide-eyed. “That curve—where’d you learn to do that?”

You was still catching you breath. “It’s from ice skating… I didn't think it would work”

Langa gave a look at you like his soul was leaving him from the worry.

Reki caught up a few moments later, breathless. “Okay—what was that spinny slide thing?! You nearly kissed the ground!”

Cherry arrived behind you all, arms crossed, fan resting at his shoulder. “If I were you, I’d study that move. It takes years of edge control to execute it properly.”

You flushed, suddenly aware of the attention. “I—I didn’t mean to… I just did what felt natural.”

Langa looked at you, a semblance of his soul coming back to his body “Well...Thank the lord it worked.”

“My mom and your dad would kill me if something happened.” He muttered

“What was that?” You turned your attention to the snow-haired boy.

“Nothing!’

Reki grinned. “More than worked. That was insane.”

You stood at the base of the finish line, the roar of the crowd dulling into a distant hum. Your legs were trembling slightly — not from weakness, but from pure adrenaline still coursing through your body.

Your breaths came fast and shallow.

The pounding in your chest wasn’t like the paralyzing fear you felt at first.

It was an electrifying excitement.

You stared down at your skates, the warehouse lights flickering above, casting shadows across the metal floor.

Your gloved hand hovered at your side, still feeling the ground from where it had grazed during the turn, the vibration in your wrist, the sting in your muscles.

Your heart hadn’t slowed yet.

You hadn’t felt this… alive in a long time.

Not since—

Not since the ice.

But this was different. Louder. Faster. Wilder.

You looked at Langa.

‘Was this how he felt then?'

You looked over your shoulder, back up the brutal slope you’d somehow survived — sharp turns, rocky curves, dips that could have launched you off the track. And yet…

You smiled.

‘I didn’t fall.’

Langa stood a few steps away, watching you quietly.

“You okay?” he asked again, softer this time.

You nodded. Then took a moment before answering.

“…That was scary.”

Reki stepped up beside you. “No kidding we almost got our asses whooped by your parents.”

“But,” you added, voice steadier now, “it felt… amazing.”

The redhead raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

Your eyes stayed fixed on the direction of the slope. “Like… everything I used to be afraid of was chasing me down that track. But for once… I didn’t let it catch me.”

You turned toward them, cheeks flushed, eyes lit up not from fear — but fire.

“…Can we go again?”

This time, no hesitation. No flustered smile. Just resolve.

Langa’s lips curved into a small smile. “Yeah.”

Reki pumped a fist. “Heck yeah, let’s go!”

₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊

Reki plopped down with a loud sigh, dropping a convenience store bag onto the bench beside him.

“I got drinks, chips, and those chocolate things Miya likes,” he declared, digging through the crinkling plastic. “Fairy gets first pick.”

You, sitting quietly beside Langa, blinked. “Fairy?”

Reki grinned like a fox. “That’s your S nickname now. You did that glidey, floaty thing like a ballerina with a death wish. People kept calling you that after you left!”

“I didn’t— I don’t need a nickname…” you murmured, cheeks flushing pink.

“Nope. Too late. It’s stuck,” Miya said, lounging nearby with one leg over the other. “Fairy [Name]. Skater of death-defying twirls.”

“I didn’t twirl,” you said softly, looking down and fiddling with your gloves.

“You hydrobladed,” Langa corrected quietly, without looking up from his board. “On the worst corner of the track.”

“Exactly,” Miya added. “We should be calling you Glide Princess or something.”

The redhead snorted. “Too long. Fairy is cleaner. Plus it makes you sound like you’re about to stab someone with grace.”

You gave the tiniest laugh under your breath. “That’s… oddly specific.”

Reki rustled through the bag again. “Alright, who wants—"

“Those!” Miya interrupted, reaching in just as you did the same.

Your fingers brushed.

You blinked and quickly pulled back with a soft “Ah—sorry!”

Miya paused. Then blinked once, ears faintly red—

“Don't even think about it.” A deep voice warned, startling the younger teen boy. He felt a sense of deja vu, furrowing his eyebrows and looking at Langa, who was the perpetrator, then darting his gaze to Reki who was watching it all amusedly.

This felt too familiar-

Snapping out of it, Miya gave the snack to you,

“You can have it, you touched it first.”

You mumbled a ‘thank you’.

Langa, now sitting on your other side, slowly turned his head.

His gaze landed squarely on Miya’s hand, then on yours, then back on Miya’s.

Reki noticed the micro-glare and smirked. “...Uh-oh.”

“What?” Langa said flatly, already opening his drink.

Reki leaned in with a mischievous grin. “You just gave Miya the protective big brother death stare.”

“I didn’t,” Langa said. Way too quickly.

“You totally did,” Miya said, unfazed, biting into his snack. “You looked like you were deciding if I needed to be drop-kicked.”

You blinked in confusion. “Wait—what’s happening?”

“Langa’s turning into your fairy godbodyguard,” Reki teased.

The snow-haired boy, still perfectly calm, glanced at Miya again. “Just making sure no one tries to be weird.”

“I handed her a chocolate stick, not a marriage proposal,” Miya replied, unbothered.

You looked more flustered by the second and sank slightly behind your soda can.

Reki raised his can. “To our very graceful fairy, and her very intense fan club.”

Langa clinked his can against Reki’s in silent acceptance.

You shook your head gently with a small smile. “You’re all weird.”

“Get used to it,” Miya said, stretching. “You’re one of us now.”

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note/s: lowk didn't know what I was writing, before I knew it was 3am uhm- you could see an OVA reference if you squint